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From the Secretariat The EBC has been extremely active since the New Year and almost one-third of the year has passed by without noticing. A few of these activities are highlighted in the following articles. The EBC secretariat is also attempting to develop alternative funding lines to compensate for a decrease in committee membership this year and an impending decline in the overall chamber contribution next year. Three ways you can contribute to ensuring are described in this news bulletin. An EBC Taskforce of dedicated volunteers has met regularly for more than a year to produce a draft revision of the EBC constitution, which currently is under review by the chambers. A new feature of the constitution will be the inclusion of three committee chairmen, with voting rights, in the EBC Council to represent the views of the committees in the decision-making process. One of these three chairmen will be selected by the Council to additionally serve as an EBC vice-chairman. The name of the EBC will likely change from European Business Community to European Business Council. The revision has not yet been taken to the vote, but is expected to come into effect from 2005. The success of the EBC can only be achieved with your input and continued support and we look forward to everyone's close cooperation again this year EBC Chairman Makes Presentation at Japan Investment Council EBC Chairman, Mr. Richard Collasse, made a presentation to the Japan Investment Council on March 24th (speaking notes available at http://www.ebc-jp.com. As a result of this intervention, the Cabinet Office is setting up a working group to study the tax treatment of cross-border stock swaps in cooperation with METI, the ACCJ and the EBC. The EBC's Tax Committee has submitted information to the Cabinet Office on the tax treatment of cross border stock swaps in various European jurisdictions. EBC Telecommunications Carriers Committee Holds Seminar The EBC Telecommunications Carriers Committee organized a successful seminar on the new Telecommunications Business Law on March 29th with over 20 journalists and 50 industry-related personnel in attendance. The panel discussion was chaired by Prof. Sato of Konan University (former chair of the Telecommunications Council) and included participation from EBC members, Vodafone and Cable&WirelessIDC, as well as representatives from the MPHPT, Japan Telecom and KDDI. Raise Funds for EBC Each Time You Make a Call When you register through the EBC for telephone services with discount telecom carrier, Ultracall (Global TaNK), not only will your telephone charges markedly decrease, but also a substantial percentage of your telephone charges will be donated to the EBC by Ultracall/Global Tank. EBC will receive no information about the phone calls you make - only receive a donation from Ultracall/Global TaNK. For more information about the company, which is a member of several European chambers of commerce, see: http://www.ultracall.co.jp/eng/index.html To obtain more information and to express interest in joining this two-way-benefit fundraiser, please contact the EBC at ebc@gol.com EBC Participates in METI study group on International Accounting Standards EBC members, Mr. H. Kakuta (DaimlerChrysler) and Mr. J.F. Minier (Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (Japan) Ltd.), and EBC Policy Director, C. Sedgman, made presentations to the METI study group on international accounting standards (IAS) in March and April. The EBC presentation in March reflected input received from a questionnaire produced by METI and distributed by the EBC to its members. The goal of the Study Group is to develop a policy towards the adoption of IAS, especially as they affect Japanese firms that list in European jurisdictions. EBC Sends Letter to PM Supporting Revisions to the Anti-Monopoly Act The Japan Fair Trade Commission has proposed revisions to the Anti-Monopoly Act, including increased fines for anti-competitive behavior and a leniency system to encourage defectors in collusive relationships, a proposal that the EBC supported in a letter sent to the Prime Minister on March 2nd. The JFTC's proposal has not been well received by the Japanese business community, notably by the Keidanren, which continues to vigorously oppose it. A copy of the letter is available from the EBC office at ebc@gol.com EBC Sends Letter to PM Calling for Level Playing Field in Post Office Services The debate on privatization of the Postal Corporation is intensifying, with the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy calling for a phase-in period lasting upwards of 15 years. It appears likely that Japan Post will not be split into separate regional or functional entities and will be allowed to expand its business. It also appears likely that the Corporation will stop receiving preferential treatment in terms of taxation and government guarantees on its insurance and banking operations. The EBC sent a letter to the Prime Minister on March 31st calling for the establishment of a level-playing field in the market for services in which the Postal Corporation has a dominant presence. A copy of the letter is available from the EBC office at ebc@gol.com "We've Got You Covered: The EBC-MCE Executive Training Seminars" The European Business Community in Japan (EBC) is proud to announce a series of executive training seminars: "We've Got You Covered: The EBC-MCE Executive Training Seminars" to be offered in collaboration with the Management Centre Europe MCE), the European arm of the American Management Association. Through this collaboration in 2004, you will have the opportunity to participate in three (3) of MCE/AMA's globally acclaimed seminars run by the EBC at a 10-15% lower cost than available elsewhere. A certificate of participation will be distributed at the completion of each training seminar. The first seminar will be a full-day executive training session, including lunch, on June 17 on the topic of "Dr. de Bono's Six Thinking Hats". This training seminar is for executives with general management, staff or functional responsibilities and is designed to enhance effective decision-making. To register online, go to http://www.ebc-jp.com, go to the first article under the photo of the EBC chairman and click on the hyperlin Dates Set for 2004 EU-Japan Business Dialogue Roundtable The EU-Japan Business Dialogue Roundtable, which is the annual high-level bilateral business discussion involving both the private sectors and governments of the EU and Japan, will be held this year in Tokyo on June 20 and 21. The EBC Chairman is the co-chair for Europe of Working Party 1 - "Creating an Open Environment for Trade and Investment." EBC policy director, Casey Sedgman, will be preparing the European intervention for this working party. EBC Jointly Organising Half-Day Symposium with the Nikkei Shimbun EBC Chairman, Mr. Richard Collasse, has initiated a joint symposium to be held in Tokyo on the afternoon of June 21, immediately after the EU-Japan Business Dialogue Roundtable and immediately prior to the EU-Japan Summit. Details are still sketchy, but the theme is likely to focus on a common agenda for the EU and Japan in promoting sustainable global economic recovery. Both President Prodi and Prime Minister Koizumi are expected to participate, along with senior European and Japanese business leaders. EBC's partners in organizing this event are the Nikkei Shimbun, The European Commission and the EU-Japan Business Dialogue Roundtable. No-Action letter From EBC ASSET Management Committee Planned The asset management committee has commenced full-scale work on a "no-action letter" to clarify the position of Japanese subsidiaries in dealing for affiliates in Japanese equities. The law firm, Mitsui Yasuda, has been retained as counsel for the committee and will act as liaison with the FSA on this matter. New Aeronautics, Space and Defence Committee Chairman Mr. Stephane Ginoux (Eurocopter) has replaced Mr. Ramon Terrones (Airbus) as chair of the committee. The EBC Secretariat would like to thank Mr. Terrones for his dedication in managing the committee over the past three years and we would also like to express our appreciation to Mr. Ginoux for taking on the role. Place Your Company's Hyperlinked Logo on the EBC Website Slight cosmetic modifications of our website at http://www.ebc-jp.com are underway and should be finished soon. Once again, as in 2003, we will be offering space to place corporate banners for a fee. The space used is down the left-hand side of each page starting from the homepage and one large space across the top (for a higher fee). Please take a look at the current version of the website for reference. We will soon be making an outreach with more details when the site is updated. DaimlerChrysler
Cup The
second annual North American-Europe Golf Challenge in Japan, the
DaimlerChrysler Cup, will be played on Friday 1st of October 2004. The
venue is same as last year - Atsugi Kokusai Country C.C. Sponsors who sign
up now will have the additional benefit of getting a full one-year
exposure on the web site (until we open the 2005 site). Registration
opened on 15 March. For more information and to register, go to: http://www.dccgolf-japan.com |
